'Meth murder' trial set to begin this month

Sam Dumas Dawkins

The murder trial for the four men charged in the 2009 death of 38-year-old Andrew Nichols is set to begin on April 22.

Sam Dumas Dawkins, 48; Robert Vincent Lambert, 38; Michael Scott West, 34; and Chad Ashley Allen, 34; are facing a plethora of charges in Nichols death, including murder, kidnapping, concealing the death of another and aggravated assault, among others.

The four men, along with a cast of several bit players, are accused of the torture and murder of 38-year-old Andrew Nichols whose body was found partially buried in Social Circle in late 2009. According to investigators, Nichols was taken from the area of Ivy Street in Porterdale and transported to Dawkins' home on Deer Trail in Oxford. He was taken to a shed at the back of the property, beaten and shot to death, then transported to Walton County where the body was found Dec. 6, 2009.

The four accused will join issue for trial, meaning they will be tried together during one trial.